Investigation of Nuclear Structure with Relative Self-Absorption Measurements

In this work, a special application of the nuclear resonance fluorescence technique has been used and further advanced to study nuclear structure effects: so-called relative self-absorption experiments. They allow for the direct determination of ground-state transition widths of excited states, an important quantity for comparisons to model calculations, as well as the level width and the branching ratio to the ground state of individual states in a model-independent way. Two self-absorption measurements have been performed. On the one hand, the absolute excitation widths and the decay pattern of low-lying excited dipole states in the energy regime of the pygmy dipole resonance have been investigated in the nucleus $^{140}$Ce. The results of the nuclear resonance fluorescence measurement, which is part of a self-absorption experiment, as well as of the actual self-absorption measurement are presented for 117 and 104 excited states of $^{140}$Ce, respectively. They are compared to previous measurements and discussed with respect to the statistical model. On the other hand, a high-precision measurement of the self absorption of the $T=1$, $J^{\pi}=0^+_1$ level at an excitation energy of \unit[3563]{keV} in $^6$Li has been conducted. A precisely measured level width of this state can serve as a benchmark for modern ab-inito calculations

The decay pattern of the Pygmy Dipole Resonance of ¹⁴⁰Ce

The decay properties of the Pygmy Dipole Resonance (PDR) have been investigated in the semi-magic N=82 nucleus ¹⁴⁰Ce using a novel combination of nuclear resonance fluorescence and γ–γcoincidence techniques. Branching ratios for transitions to low-lying excited states are determined in a direct and model-independent way both for individual excited states and for excitation energy intervals. Comparison of the experimental results to microscopic calculations in the quasi-particle phonon model exhibits an excellent agreement, supporting the observation that the Pygmy Dipole Resonance couples to the ground state as well as to low-lying excited states. A 10% mixing of the PDR and the [2+1×PDR]is extracted

Investigation of Nuclear Structure with Relative Self-Absorption Measurements

In this work, a special application of the nuclear resonance fluorescence technique has been used and further advanced to study nuclear structure effects: so-called relative self-absorption experiments. They allow for the direct determination of ground-state transition widths of excited states, an important quantity for comparisons to model calculations, as well as the level width and the branching ratio to the ground state of individual states in a model-independent way. Two self-absorption measurements have been performed. On the one hand, the absolute excitation widths and the decay pattern of low-lying excited dipole states in the energy regime of the pygmy dipole resonance have been investigated in the nucleus $^{140}$Ce. The results of the nuclear resonance fluorescence measurement, which is part of a self-absorption experiment, as well as of the actual self-absorption measurement are presented for 117 and 104 excited states of $^{140}$Ce, respectively. They are compared to previous measurements and discussed with respect to the statistical model. On the other hand, a high-precision measurement of the self absorption of the $T=1$, $J^{\pi}=0^+_1$ level at an excitation energy of \unit[3563]{keV} in $^6$Li has been conducted. A precisely measured level width of this state can serve as a benchmark for modern ab-inito calculations

Detecting Fatigue in Commercial Flight Operations Using Physiological Measures

The purpose of this study is to determine whether any technology exists to unobtrusively, reliably, and accurately detect symptoms of fatigue in real time before fatigue affects performance. Airline pilots are fitted with a variety of physiological measurement devices (e.g. EEG, blink rate, etc.) that have been demonstrated in the literature to be related to fatigue. Each crew of two pilots performs simulated gate-to-gate flight operations under rested and fatigued conditions, during which physiologic and performance parameters are continuously monitored. In addition, audio, video, and simulator data are recorded for post-session evaluation. Ultimately, if one or more technologies proves effective, we can incorporate it into the flight deck for real-time fatigue detection capability as part of a larger fatigue risk management system. The usefulness of this type of approach extends beyond the commercial flight deck to any work environment that requires multi-shift or other non-traditional scheduling

A novel decay channel of the 1+ scissors mode: coupling to the vibrational β-excitation

The transitional nucleus 154Gd was investigated using a combination of a photon scattering experiment and a γγ-coincidence study following the β decay of 154Tb. A novel decay channel from the scissors mode to the band head of the β-band was observed. Its transition strength B(M1; 1sc+ → 0β+) was determined. An IBM-2 calculation reveals a correlation of this decay channel and the shape phase transition between spherical and deformed nuclei

Direct determination of ground-state transition widths of low-lying dipole states in 140Ce with the self-absorption technique

The technique of self absorption has been applied for the first time to study the decay pattern of low-lying dipole states of 140Ce. In particular, ground-state transition widths 0 and branching ratios 0/ to the ground state have been investigated in the energy domain of the pygmy dipole resonance. Relative self-absorption measurements allow for a model-independent determination of 0. Without the need to perform a full spectroscopy of all decay channels, also the branching ratio to the ground state can be determined. The experiment on 140Ce was conducted at the bremsstrahlung facility of the superconducting Darmstadt electron linear accelerator S-DALINAC. In total, the self-absorption and, thus, 0 were determined for 104 excited states of 140Ce. The obtained results are presented and discussed with respect to simulations of γ cascades using the DICEBOX code

Decay pattern of the pygmy dipole resonance in 130Te

The electric dipole strength distribution in 130Te has been investigated using the method of Nuclear Resonance Fluorescence. The experiments were performed at the Darmstadt High Intensity Photon Setup using bremsstrahlung as photon source and at the High Intensity -Ray Source, where quasi-monochromatic and polarized photon beams are provided. Average decay properties of 130Te below the neutron separation energy are determined. Comparing the experimental data to the predictions of the statistical model indicate, that nuclear structure effects play an important role even at sufficiently high excitation energies. Preliminary results will be presented

Direct determination of ground-state transition widths and natural level widths with the method of relative self absorption

The method of relative self absorption is based on the technique of nuclear resonance fluorescence measurements. It allows for a model-independent determination of ground-state transition widths, natural level widths, and, consequently, of branching ratios to the ground state for individual excitations. Relative self–absorption experiments have been performed on the nuclei 6Li and 140Ce. In order to investigate the total level width for the 0+1, T = 1 level at 3563 keV in 6Li, a high-precision self-absorption measurement has been performed. In the case of 140Ce, self absorption has been applied for the first time to study decay widths of dipole-excited states in the energy regime of the pygmy dipole resonance

QPM analysis of 205TI nuclear excitations below the giant dipole resonance

We analysed our experimental recent findings of the dipole response of the odd-mass stable nucleus 205Tl within the quasi-particle phonon model. Using the phonon basis constructed for the neighbouring 204Hg and wave function configurations for 205Tl consisting of a mixture of quasiparticle ⊗ N-phonon configurations (N=0,1,2), only one group of fragmented dipole excited states has been reproduced at 5.5 MeV in comparison to the experimental distribution which shows a second group at about 5 MeV. The computed dipole transition strengths are mainly of E1 character which could be associated to the pygmy dipole resonance